Thorpe To Deal With Ducks Again

May 13, 1994|by TRACY JORDAN, The Morning Call

A Jim Thorpe man again cried fowl about 20 ducks congregating on Mauch Chunk Creek next to his Broadway home and pleaded with Borough Council to remove the feathered creatures before someone gets hurt.

Council again agreed to quack down on the problem.

James McElhenney of 367 Broadway has wanted the ducks removed from the borough's property for at least five years. He has said the ducks strut into his yard to defecate and are a nuisance to the neighborhood.

Others have defended the ducks as wild animals that have become neighborhood pets and a familiar attraction. Ducks have lived on that patch of land for close to 50 years.

"My opinion is it's only a question of time before there is an accident," McElhenney said. "A collision with a duck could result in a very serious accident for a cyclist."

Jim Thorpe is a destination for many bicyclists, who ride the mountain trails surrounding the Victorian buildings on Broadway. Because of the town's historic railroad station and natural beauty, it is also a destination for train buffs and other tourists. Some stop to feed the ducks, others avoid them.

Councilmen Ronald Sheehan, Joseph Krebs and Jay Miller agreed to form a committee to find a solution.

"Because of the last time we got involved in this, council feels it is in the best interset to have three people sit down there and come up with a common goal," council President Michael Sofranko said. "Let's handle this civilly this time. Let's not get into mudslinging."

In August 1990, council tried to find a solution, but residents tried to find one on their own. There were reports of missing ducks, dead ducks and injured ducks.

In 1991, McElhenney and neighbor William Maehrer of 320 W. Broadway filed simple assault charges against each other after a fistfight over the duck issue.

Maehrer pleaded no contest to a summary disorderly conduct charge, and the charge against McElhenney was dropped.

Maehrer had earlier filed a summary harassment charge against McElhenney. He accused McElhenney of picking up and carrying his mother, Helen Maehrer. McElhenney was convicted, but it was overturned.

Helen Maehrer has fed the ducks for years, and treats them as pets. She lives across the street from the duck pond.

"We don't want anyone bodily harmed" this time, Sofranko said. "Or ducks thrown on anyone's door step, which has happened in the past."

Krebs, who heads the police committee, said the ducks have become a nuisance to motorists. He said he nearly hit one. Mayor Thomas Wildoner said his son hit one, Councilman Miller said the water department truck hit one and Krebs said Police Chief Thomas Mase hit one.

"At this point, we're just lucky it's only ducks that have been hurt and not people," Sheehan said.

Miller said the ducks should not be wandering across the street.

"I like ducks," Miller said. "But if they're not attended to, we're going to get rid of them."

McElhenney said the borough is at risk of being sued because the ducks are on borough property.

"I can see no reason why they need be there if they could cause a problem," McElhenney said. "I feel if someone is injured it would rest solely with you and possibly a lawsuit against the taxpayers."